The story of Telegraph music critic Neil McCormick’s youth has been made into
film. Here, he talks about his involvement with the writing and filming.

It’s the story of my life as a failed rock star, which is a very strange thing to see unfold on a movie screen.

Most people deemed worthy of the biopic treatment have actually done something memorable, even historical, warriors, sports legends, entertainement superstars, great peace activists.

All I did was royally screw things up for myself, while my school friends in U2 went on to achieve everything I ever wanted. But actually more people have the experience of failure than success, so there is a kind of everyman quality to a loser’s story, which is what drives the film.

It took six years to get this movie made, and mostly I just tried to stay out of the way. Dick Clement and Ian LaFrenais wrote the script, and I think they know what they are doing.

The director, Nick Hamm was absolutely charming and determined to get it made against all odds, but I usually only heard from him when he wanted to complain about something. “The problem with your life,” he once told me, “Is that it doesn’t have a third act. But don’t worry – we’re going to give you one.”

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I started to get involved towards the end, particularly regarding the authenticity of the U2 scenes, but I tried to let the professionals do their job. I’ve already told my story in my book, this is kind of a riff on that, and I don’t want to get too precious about it. I’m being played for laughs, but, on the other hand, I’m being played by Ben Barnes, so I can’t really complain.